Poor prognosis in negro children with acute lymphocytic leukemia

Black children with acute lymphocytic leukemia should be considered separately in designing and evaluating chemotherapy programs because of the difference in response.

Abstract

This study of 334 children with acute lymphocytic leukemia was undertaken to compare the clinical course and response to chemotherapy of Negro children with those of Caucasian children. An initial hematologic remission was attained in 34 of 46 Negro children (74%) with a median duration of the first hematologic remission of 4.9 months and median survival of 14 months. In Caucasian children, a remission occurred in 265 of 288 (92%) with a median duration of 13.1 months and a median survival of 23 months. The poor prognosis in Negro children was related to advanced disease and poverty. However, the natural history of leukemia in the Negro children suggested that other factors related to race also influence host-disease interaction. Because of the difference in response, Negro children should be considered separately in designing and evaluating chemotherapy programs.